Chapter theme song: "Skin" by: Rhianna

Prologue

I came in after three, slamming the door behind me after what seemed like the fiftieth first date. I was tired of meeting guys online, talking to them for a few days, and finally meeting up with them only to either be disappointed or have it go sour in a premature relationship. This was the fifth time this month where I put on Sunday best only to be met with regret shortly after. This time it was some Hispanic guy whose name I already forgot. He was some so called 'medical resident' at Hartford hospital for the medically disabled and a real 'advocate' for animal rights. Not only does he show up fashionably late in some tacky suit that looked straight out the seventies, he had the audacity to wear gator skinned dress shoes with a matching belt. He not only lied about his occupation- he is a janitor at a local high school, but his age as well. He was well over twenty-two; more like thirty-two if you ask me. He reeked of stale, cheap cologne and was very inappropriate throughout dinner; announcing his hard-on several time unto the entire restaurant without any shame. I guess he thought that was going to impress me. To make matters worse, he insisted we go Dutch and split the bill before walking me to my car and hoping to get a little action in tonight. I shot him down like a vice president in a gun range and went home only to be met with the echo of an empty house. I forgot that the professor was at some engineering convention for the next few days while both Bubbles and Buttercup were out at some bar with their friends. I let out a small sigh.

Kicking off my four-inch heels, I reached behind me to unzip my bandage dress. I allowed it to pool into nothing but fabric below my feet before pulling down my garters. I was so hopeful of this one that I even put on a bit of lingerie. My mistake, clearly. I unhooked my bra, tossing into the clothes bin before I carried my clothes upstairs to my room. Undoing my ponytail, I released my hair to fall to the crevices of my ample breasts. I reached in the clutch I had brought to dinner and grabbed my cigarette and lighter. I gave it a quick light before taking a small puff to calm my nerves. I coughed a bit, still getting the hang of the whole smoking business, but continued nonetheless. I put on some music and opened my curtains to keep a good look at the moonlight. It was a full moon tonight and with the professor's renovations to the house, I was able to not only get a skylight, but have the biggest window in the house to get the best view. I smiled lightly, taking another hit.

Reaching for my cordless, I dialed his number. I didn't expect him to be up but part of me hoped he would be for my own sanity. It rang a couple of times without an answer and just when I was about to hang up, I heard his voice on the other end. "Hello?"

"Hey." I said sweetly, smiling. He groaned. "You asleep?"

"Normal people are asleep at three in the morning, Blossom." I giggled, feeling a familiar warmth course through my veins. I allowed myself to lay back against my fortress of pillows, spreading my legs as my freshly manicured hands roamed over my erected buds. "Why are you awake?"

"Just came back from another date." I sighed. I got irritated just thinking about how this one turned out. It had to be one of the worst thus far. "Tragic, if I must say."

"That bad, huh?"

"Yes." I whispered. There was a short pause before either of us spoke. I could hear him breathing over the phone, fighting sleep. I wanted to go to sleep, matter fact, I knew I should have been asleep but I was not exactly ready to retire just yet. Something was missing. "You want to come over?"

"It's three in the morning, Blossom."

"Never stopped you before." I quipped, light humor in my voice. He chuckled.

"That's true. I have class in the morning though around noon and my professor will maim me if I am late again."

"I'll have you up and out by ten at the latest."

"You are a persistent little bugger aren't you?"

"Only for you." I smiled, flirting a little harder. I arched my back against the moonlight, watching my pink pearls glisten. I allowed myself to take another drag of my cigarette against the music coming from my stereo. I was getting warmer. "So how about it? You know you are the only person I call during these times."

"Yeah, I know." He shuffled. "You got condoms because I'm out."

I paused to look inside my side table drawer. I had about three left out of the box of fifty I had bought last month at the drug store. "Yeah, I have a few."

"Alright, little miss perfect; I'll be there in less than five."

The line went dead and there was only a dial tone. I quickly got up to freshen up, extinguishing my cigarette in the ashtray besides my bed. I rummaged through my medicine cabinet to find my feminine toilettes to give myself a quick refresher before changing my underwear. I exchanged my lace panties for an even lacier thong. I took out one of my asymmetrical lounge shirts that gave that 80's dancer look and spritzed on a layer of mango scented body spray. I fluffed up my hair and put on a small layer of clear gloss before there was a light tapping at my bedroom window. There stood Brick, perched up on a branch with that signature smug look on his face. I grinned levitating towards the window to unlock it. I allowed him in and watched intently as he removed his hooded sweatshirt, throwing it into a nearby corner. I didn't even have a chance to properly secure the window before he pulled me down onto the bed. I let out a small squeak before he kissed me, running his hands up my shirt to fondle with my delicate skin.

"Someone is hasty, hm?"

"You woke me up." He retorted, beginning to nibble on my ear. I let out a low moan before slinking my hands up his undershirt and along the contoured valleys of his stomach. He was a toned God. "Date went that bad?" he murmured. I nodded without thinking.

"Touch me." I breathed, yanking his half worn shirt. His hands traveled towards my thighs, spreading them fully apart to nestle himself between them. "Brick."

"Blossom."

I removed my thin fabric of panty, flicking it into oblivion before he removed his pestering undershirt and began working on his pant buckle. I let out low, shallow breaths to try and prepare myself for what happens next. Both Brick and I knew we were playing a dangerous game with fire but neither one of us cared that much. Both Brick and I wanted someone to call our own, someone to love us unconditionally till death due us part and decided we would be each other's substitute until that day came along. I had always wanted that fairytale romance since I was just a young girl and Brick finally decided that after years of studding himself out that he was ready to be in a monogamous relationship with the perfect woman. Of course we tried the whole dating thing but it was mutually decided- mostly on my half- to remain as friends. Brick and I were polar opposites. He wanted a submissive type of woman that would worship the ground he treaded upon and I wanted a man that was willing to be selfless enough to put aside his needs for my own. I was not certain how the whole friends with benefits thing came about but anytime Brick would go on a horrible date or get out of a toxic relationship, he would call me to relieve some much needed stress; I doing the same when it was my turn. I know Brick still has feelings for me and even though I don't want to admit it, I do still have feelings for him too. But it was agreed we just remain friends and wish each other for the best. The sex will only complicate things, we both are aware, but until that time comes, we simply indulge and pretend.